Why's the William and Mary Early Decision acceptance rate high?

Browsing through college data, I saw that William and Mary's Early Decision acceptance rate is significantly higher than its overall rate. Is it easier to get in this way? If so, why's that?

Indeed, many colleges, including William and Mary, tend to have higher acceptance rates for Early Decision (ED) applicants compared to Regular Decision (RD) applicants. The key reasons are twofold.

First, Early Decision is a binding agreement. By applying ED, students are pledging to enroll at that school if they are accepted. Colleges appreciate the certainty that ED applicants will attend if selected as it helps in their yield rate calculations, a metric colleges use to measure their attractiveness to students.

Second, the ED applicant pool often features highly qualified candidates. These students have identified the school as their top choice and, as such, are generally well-prepared and committed.

However, it's essential to understand that this doesn't necessarily mean it's "easier" to get in via Early Decision. The pool of applicants is often highly competitive, and while the acceptance rate might be higher, colleges are still selective and look for students who are a good fit for their institution. The college is still ensuring that students accepted in the ED rounds align with their academic, extracurricular, and community values.

So, although the acceptance rate might be higher for ED, it doesn't equate to lowered standards or an easy pass into the college. It's advisable to apply to ED only if you are certain that the school is your top choice and that you would be content attending it if accepted.